Cut cane and tubing sorter



Nov. 23" 1926. 1,607,932

J. B. WHITM ORE ET AL cu'r CANE AND TUBING SOR'IER Filed May 5, 1921 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 avwmtow HMEs 5 WH/ THOEE JOHN E. FERGUSON Nov 23, 1926. 1307,93:

' J. B. WHITMORE ET AL CUT CANE AND TUBING SORTER Filed May 5. 1921 3 Sheets-She et 2 auwzntou J/IHES 5' WH/THO/YE JOHN E. FERQUJON 1 1,607,932 J. B. WHITMORE Er AL CUT CANE AND TUBING SORTER Filed May 5. 1921 s sheets sheet 5 bodied in the Patented Nov. 23, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT, OFFICE.)

JAMES BRYANT WHITMORE AND JOHN EBLING FERGUSON, OF BLOOMFIELD, NEW

JERSEY, ASSIGNORS TO WESTINGHOUSE LAMP PENNSYLVANIA.

Application filed May 5, 1921.

'5 cane or tubing and like articles.

An object of the invention is to provide a mechanism for passing a stream of articles over a series of gages and for separating from the stream all articles of corresponding sizes.

Another object of the invention is to provide automaticmecbanism for gaging the diameters of cane or tubing used in the manufacture of incandescent. lamps. and segregating all the gaged cane or'tubing of like sizes into separate groups for use in 'automaticmachines. adjusted to receive cane or tubing of predetermined size, or for other purposes. k y 1 Other objects will be apparent from the following detailed description.

Cane or tubing of glass arepreceived in a factory usually in lengths approximating three feet or-more, and it is found that their cross-sectional dimensions are not uniform throughout their lengths. The cane or tub ing are gaged and sorted cane or tubing-of each group hav ng approximately the same diameter. Thereafter they are cut into short lengths of approxi- 'mately three inches. Heretofore, it has been customary to gage these short length canes or tubes by hand, and, in order to avoid such a tedious and laborious and to, reduce the cost of the. operation, :a mechanism,'an illustration of which is ema accompanying drawings, may be provided which will automatically and accurately gage short length cane or tubing with. great rapidity.

The accompanying embodiment selected as incorporating the invention, wherein..

arrow, illustrating Fig. 4 is a detail plan view, of a gage showing more particularly, a plurality of gage ]aws or points;

clined formation.

and. if any cane into groups, the

operation y gaging mechanisms are drawings illustrate anand 3) in the direction'of the the arrangement of the gages and the feeding device.

operating with the hopper.

COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF CUT CANE AND TUBING SORTER.

Serial No. 466,926.

Fig. 5 is a cross section on line V-V of is- Fig. 6 is a detail of the operating mechanism for a feed roller; and Fig. 7 is a plan View of the feed roller.

Hereafter, whenever the words cane 0r canes are employed it is to be understood that tubes or tubing or articles of that general nature and, if desired, of other material may be used, as it is obvious that the apparatus will function as well with the one as with theother.

The present machine may consist essentially of a mechanism for successively feeding canes of predetermined lengths to a series of multiple-point gages of different sizes, preferably arranged in descending or in- The canes are received successively by the first gage of the series fails to pass through that gage, it is raised vertically until so positioned with respect to the contour of the machine. that the potential energy inherent in the cane moves it downwardly along the face of the machine toward the nextgage of the series. The cane is arrested in its movement toward the second gage, first by a pusher which-removes the non-gag'ed cane from the gage and then by means of a raised ledge when the pusher iswithdrawn. This operation is repeated each time any cane fails to pass through anyone of the gages. Canes which pass through the games are guided by suitable chutes into co llection containers.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, the standards 8 connected by the cross beams 9 form a thetable 10, upon which the feeding and mounted. ging operation, the

In p'erfprming the gages by suitable cane may be fed to t e frame which supports automatic mechanism which arranges them in successionand substantial parallelism. A selected form of such. mechanism (Figs. 1

- preferably comprises hopper 11 secured to supports 12 and, fastened to the table 10 in any desired manner, The canes are successively fed and arranged in parallelism, preferably by a conveyor 00- A selected'form of conveyor is illustrated as a feed roller 13 rotatably secured in an opening 14 of the an elevated I to roll or slide.

aperturesQS, 29, 30 and 31.

hopper 11. The face of the feed roller is usually provided with a plurality of longitudinal recesses 15 of sufiicient size to accommodate the largest of the canes to be gaged. To prevent more than one cane at a time from being carried out of the hopper through the opening 14, a stripper plate 16 is secured to the wall 17 of the hopper in such manner as to have its lower edge positioned adjacent to the face of the feed roller. The wall 17 has itslower edge arranged adjaceiit to the face of the feed roller. and spaced from the lower edge of an inclined plate 18 that constitutes a bottom for the hopper 11. An outlet opening 19 is thus formed through which the canes may pass to a pocket 20 (Fig. The hopper wall 17 lies close to the face of the roller 13 for preventing the canes in the recesses 15 from falling from the roller until they reach a position near the outlet 19, through which they pass to the receiving pocket 20.

The gaging and sorting of the canes may be performed in various ways but it is pref' crable that such operation be carried out in an automatic machine which moves the cane in a stream to gages of different sizes until a gage is reached corresponding in size to the cane, whereupon it passes, or is removed, from the stream of canes through the gage into a chute which conducts it to a receiving receptacle. A machine which will be found to fulfil all these requirements may comprise a series or plurality of downwardly inclined or descending plates 23, 24, 25, 26 and 27 having theiredges spaced apart to form gaging The above described plates'constitute, as a whole, an inclined or guide member in the form of a chute down which the articles are permitted Support for these plates is afforded by the longitudinal beams 32 (Fig. 1) secured, at one of their ends, to the upper ends of the supports 12 and, at their opposite ends. to

the upper ends of supports 33; the latter being of shorter length so that the beams 32' are downwardly inclined, with the higher end adjacent the hopper 11. The plates 23 etc. may have thick upper ends 34 and thinlower ends 35, by which arrangement. when the lower faces of the plates 23 etc. lie ap proximately in the same plane, a raisedledge or check 36 is provided adjacent to or as an integral part of, each gaging aperture 28 etc. Thus, it-will be apparent that articles mov- 'ing "down the upper faces of the plates will be arrested in turn by the ledges 36 opposite each gaging aperture. after release by pusher plates, later to be described.-

The gages proper preferably comprises a plurality of jaws or points, hereinafter termed jaws, arranged in pairs or sets 37 and 38 (see Fig. 4), the former being adjustably mounted in slots 39 and locked inany adi justed position bymeans of clamping screw be found desirable to adjust the gage jaws at such distances apartthat those-in the upper aperture will be of the smallest size while those in the lowest aperture will be the largest. Or it may be preferable to have a series of sets of gage jaws of one size and another series or several series of a differentsize, whereby canes of varying diameters may be gaged. Another arrangement is to have the canes fed to but one series of sets of gage jaws so only one emd or portion may be gagcd. Suitable provision may be made in the hopper for an adjustment of this kind. However, these arrangen'ients are a matter of preference, and any other grouping may be resorted to without departing from the scope of this invention.

ln transferring cane from one gage to an other, it is found desirable to provide a suitable automatic means. A convenient means for performing such operation comprises a mechanism operating-between the gage jaws. A form of such mechanism preferably consists of a series of pusher or ejector plates 42, 43, 44 and 45 formed integral with, or connected to, two guides 46 and 47 (Figs. 1 and 3) which are guided between the sup ports 12 and The upper end of each pusher plate may be guided into proper alignment with the gaging aperture in which it operates by means of vertical plates 43 and 49. positioned on each side of the pusher plate and secured. in any desired manner, to the beams 32. The sides of the pusher plates are grooved at 51 to permit them to pass the adjustable jaws 37. while the opposite faces of the plates are perfectly plain. The upper edges of the pusher plates are preferably beveled at approximately the same angle as the upper face of the plates 23 etc, as will be apparent from a further detailed description.

Occasions may arise, during the operation struction in the operating mechanism. One

form of aparatus which prevents jamn'iing preferably comprisesa mechanism which. in its positive operation, moves the pusher plates downward, and a yeildable means for nomally maintaining the plates in their up permost position between openings 29, 30 etc. A suitable positive operating means comprises a cam 52 co-operatingwith a footpiece raised by the plate Canes passing through able containers,

53 secured to a saddle 54 astridethe shaft 55, that a cane is about to be raised by thepushto which the cam 52 is secured. The sad-- er 72 which is urged upwardly by the operdle is connected by a rod 56 to the cross beam 57 having secured to its ends the con- 5 necting rods 58 and 59, which, in turn, are secured, in any desired manner, to the guides 46 and 47. Surrounding each rod 58 and 59, between the guides 46 and 47 and plates 60 and 61 (Figs. 1 and 33) secured to the table 10, are two compression springs 62 and 63, respectively, .which normally maintain the pusher plates in their upper positions. The design of the cam 52 is such as to positively move the pusher plates 42 etc. downwardly, but permits the plates to be yieldabl'y urged upwardly under action of the springs 62 and 63. Guides 46 and 47 preferably carry a suitable mechanism for operating the feed roller 13, said mechanism being actuated in synchronism with the pusher plates. A preferred means for this purpose, illustrated more clearly in Fig. 6, comprises an arm 64, secured, at one end, by a lost-motion connection 65, to the guide 46. The other end of the arm has an angular extension 66 pivotally connected at 67 to a U-shaped housing 68, astride a ratchet wheel '69 which, in turn,

is pivotally mounted on the shaft 70,whiclr carries the ratchet Wheel 69 and the roller 13 fixed thereto. The housing 68 has, pivotally secured within its wall, a springpressed pawl 71 adapted to engage an impart intermittent rotation to the ratchet wheel and feed wheel 13 when the guide 46 is lowered,

a For convenience uniformity of action and positiveness, the feeding operation of the canes in succession preferably includes 40 a reciprocating pusher plate 72 operating in the slot 73 formed between the upper edge of the plate 23 and the lower edge of the plate 18. The upper face 74 of this pusher plate is preferably beveled, so that cane may readily roll off under the influence of its potential energy- The upper face 74 of this pusher plate may be guided ina manner similar to the other pushers. the gages are deflected by baflles 7 5, one of which is secured to the under side of each etc. adjacent a ertures 28 etc., to the chutes 76, 7 7 7 8 and 9, which guide them to suitnot shown. j Motion may be imparted to the shaft by any suitable means, as by an electric motor 80, universal joint 81 and a reduction. gear 82. Control for the motor 80 may be had by a conveniently placed switch 83,

connectedby wires 84 to themotor.

The general operation of -the machine may be described as follows: \Vith the motor running and the parts positioned as illustrated in Fig; 3, it willb'e'observed pusher plates, they will roll ofthe plates 23 I is apparent that'no-excessive ation of the springs 62 and 63. At this time as the cam 52 I foot-piece 53, the springs 62 and 63 are free to act. Upon continued movement upwardly, the pushe.' 42 etc. and 72 engage any cane restin in the gage points and pocket 20 and raise them to a point' above the ledges 36, when'undcr action of the potential energy stored within them due to their position, and the beveled face of the olt the pusher onto the inclined surfaces of the plates '23 etc. and roll downtoward the next pusher plate or gage.

As all the pushers reach their uppermost. positions, the feeding mechanism operates by having the pawl 71 drop behind a tooth on the ratchet wheel 69. Such operation takes place during the latter part of the upward movement of the pushers because of the lost-motion connection 65. The pushers then more downwardly under the influence of the cam and, just prior to their disappearing below the upper face of the plates 23 etc. they are engaged by the doumwardly moving stream of canes, and the progress of the canes is thus momentarily checked. Continued movement of the pushers downwardly releases the canes and they are then tree to again move, at a retarded speed, into the next gaging aperture.

Canes which pass first to the faces of the chutes 76 etc. suitable containers. Those canes which have only one end pass through the gaging aperture are lowered at that end but not permitted to pass through the aperture, so that, upon a subsequent movement of the pushers upward, they will be moved out of that aperture. As the pushers near the lowermost position of their downward stroke, the arm 64 is actuated to rotate the ratchet wheel 69 and the feed roller 13 to bring another cane into position to be en gaged by the pusher 7 2 on its next stroke upwardly. Canes which do. not pass through any of the gages are led from ,the machine by a chute 85.

If, however, a cane the pushers and then to damage will result, as the force acting upon the pushers is that of the springs only, the cam being through the gages drop which guide the canes to becomes jammed, it

permitted to continue rotating without any resultant damage or breakage taking place onaccount of any positive movement upwardly of the pushers. It is' to be noted that jamming of the machine can only take place between" the lowest position reached by the pushers and the point where they emerge from the; gaging apertures. Since the lost-motion connection 65 corresponds in length to this distance, it is apparent that iii passage between said gaging movement of the guides 46 and 47 vertically within this limit will have. no effect upon the arm 64 and, consequently, upon the feed mechanism. w

The structural details of the machine may be variously modified without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention,

and it is, therefore, to be understood that I the invention is not restricted to the precise of the plate adjacent to said gaging jaws.

2. A cane gaging machine comprising an inclined guide having a plurality of elongated slots, a plurality of gage-jaws associated with each slot, ejector plates movable through said slots and grooves in said plates to permit the plates to fill said slots and pass said jaws.

3. A cane inclined guide having a plurality of elongated slots, a plurality of adjustable gage-- jaws associated with each slot, ejector plates reciprocable in said aperture and slots in said plates to permit the plates to fill said apertures and pass said jaws. 4. In a cane gaging machine the combination of a hopper, an inclined guide, elongated slots in said guide, gaging jaws associated with said slot to provide gaging apertures, means for adjusting said jaws to vary the width of the gaging apertures, ejector plates having grooves therein to 'permit jaws, means associated with said hopper for individually ejecting cane therefrom for passage over said guide for' movement bygravity to said gagin JaWS n a cane gaging machine the combination of a hopper, an inclined guide, elongated slots insaid guide, a plurality of gaging jaws associated withsaid slots, ejector plates movable in said slots and having grooves to permit passage between said jaws, means for discharging cane individually from said hopper for movement by gravity to said gaging jaws and means for intermittently gated slots, a plurality of pairs of actuating said ejector plates to remove cane not passing between pairs of gaging jaws.

6. In a cane gaging machine the combination of means for feeding cane individually, an inclined guide having a plurality of elongaging apertures, one jaw of each pair. being adjustable to vary the width of said gaging aperture, ejector plates movable intermittor plates movable through gaging machine comprising an tently through said gaging apertures and having to substantially fill said slot and pass said aws.

7. In a cane gaging machine the combination of an inclined guide having a plurality of elongated slots, a plurality of pairs of gaging jaws associated with each slot to provide gaging apertures, one jaw of each pair of jaws being movable to vary a gaging opening of a slot, ejector plates movable to eject over-sized cane from said gaging-apertures, said plates having grooves to permit their passage between said jaws.

8. In a cane gaging machine the combination of an inclined guide having a plurality of elongated slots to provide gaging apertures, a plurality of pairs of gaging jaws associated with each slot to provide gaging apertures, one jaw of each pair of jaws being movable to vary a gaging aperture, ejecsaid slots and proportioned to substantially fill the same, grooves in said plates to permit the passage of portions of the plates through said gaging apertures, a hopper, means in said hopper for individually discharging cane and common means for actuating said plates and said discharge means in said hopper.

case its movement is impeded.

grooves to permit said ejector plates 10. A gaging device having a gage and 1 means comprising a member movable verti cally in said gage for removing anarticle not gaged from said gage, said member being yieldably mounted to prevent breakage.

11. A gaging device comprising a gage, an e ector member forremoving an article not gaged, actuating means for said member and means for rendering said ejector member inoperative independent of said actuating means upon jamming of an article in said gage.

12. A gaging machine comprising a series of gages having gaging apertures, nmans moving in said apertures to remove articles not gaged thereby and means for moving said removing means positively in one direction and yielda'bly in the opposite direction.

13. In a gaging machine, the combination offeeding means, gages having gaging apertures, members movable in said apertures and means for rendering said feeding means inoperative. when said gaging means is rendered inoperative when the movement of said members is impeded.

14:. A gaging machine comprising a'hopper, a conveyor for feeding articles in succession' from said hopper, a plurality of gages arrangedcindescending formation and extending forwardly from'said conveyor, a

' plurality of pusher plates, one for each gage,

means for intermittently moving said con- Veyor, a common support for said. means and said pusher plates,'and means for positively moving said support, in one direction and yieldably in the opposite direction, whereby the operation of said feeding means and said pusher plates may be arrested in case movement of said pusher plates is impeded.

15. A gaging device comprising a hopper, a feed wheel in said hopper. an inclined series of gaging apertures adjacent the lower edge of said hopper, means operating in said apertures for removing articles therefrom, means for arresting the progress of articles received from any aperture adjacent 'to such aperture, means for operating said feed Wheel, means for operating said removing means, a common support for said two last mentioned means means for positively moving said support in one direction and means for yieldably moving it in the opposite direction.

16. A gaging machine comprising-a hopper, a feed roller succession from said hopper, a receiving pocket, a pusher plate in said pocket, a series of downwardly inclined plates spaced apart to form gaging apertures. pusher plates operating in saidapertures, means for reciprocating' said pusher plates positively in one direction and. yieldably in the opposite direction, means for intermittently operating said feed roller, said last named means being carried by the means for reciprocating said for removing articles in,

pushers, chutes co-operating with said gaging apertures to receive articles passing through the apertures and means adjacent each gagingaperture' toarrest the downward progress of the articles adjacent the apertures, whereby articles are moved in succession from said. hopper to the gaging apertures and over the gaging apertures until gaged, the gaged articles passing through the apertures and out of the machine.

17. In a cane gaging machine, the combination of a hopper, a rotary conveyor adapted to feed cane individually from said hopper, an inclined guide having a plurality of elongated slots, a plurality of gaging jaws associated with each. of said slots to provide gaging apertures, and means comprising members movable in said a ertures for removing an. article not gaged irom the gaging JAMES BRYANT WHITMORE. JOHN EBLING FERGUSON.

a feeding device for jaws, said members being yieldably mounted 

